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Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff What is left of Mary Lee Simmon’s home after an explosion, Friday night.
Several people and organizations around the community are raising money after Highlands local Mary Lee Simmons lost her home to a fire Friday night.
That night started like any other, Simmons said.
“I had been remodeling my kitchen, so the gas was turned off, and was planning on getting all of the appliances out of there,” Simmons said. “It has just been slow going since the economy has been going crazy. I put it off, and haven’t had the gas on for a while.”
After flipping the gas on to cook dinner, the unimaginable happened.
“I turned the gas on, walked in the house and started cooking green beans,” Simmons said. “I had to go to the bathroom for something and I turned on the water in there. I came back into the living room and by the time I got there, there was a massive explosion. It ripped my house apart. I ran to the back to see what had happened and it was on fire. My brain told me that I needed to cut the gas off. So, I ran out the back door and cut it off. I ran back in to see if there was something I could do about the fire, but by the time I got back to my laundry room, it was completely engulfed in flames. It was too hot. I had to get out.”
Simmons said she was able to save one of her dogs, but the other one died in the fire.
“I had a gas leak underneath my house,” Simmons said. “When I ran the water, my pressure tank was underneath the house and we think the pressure tank sparked and started everything. I was so shaken up. I couldn’t even dial the phone. If it weren’t for my neighbors calling the fire department, I don’t know if I would have been able to get a call through.”
Being a lifelong Highlander, several people have already donated nearly $7,000 to a GoFundMe set up for Simmons. An account has also been set up for Simmons at First Citizens Bank and a jar has been placed on the counter at Reeves Hardware, where Simmons is an employee.
“I have absolutely been overwhelmed by the support from the community,” Simmons said. “I can’t even comprehend how good people have been to me. Pat Allen gave me a vehicle to drive. People have given me so many donations. Clothes, food, it is so overwhelming. This is the town that I grew up in and I just love these people so much.”
Highlands Fire Department, Macon EMS, Cullasaja Gorge Volunteer Fire Department and Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the fire.
- By Christopher Lugo